MMA News
Belal Muhammad explains how he'd defeat Dricus du Plessis in UFC super fight
Fernando Quiles Jr. - February 11, 2025
Belal Muhammad believes he’d defeat UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis and he’s even laid out a path to victory. Muhammad is the reigning UFC welterweight champion. He captured the gold back in July 2024 when he defeated Leon Edwards via unanimous decision. He was scheduled to put his gold at stake against Shavkat Rakhmonov in the main event of UFC 310, but an infection derailed that plan.
Dana White rips into Australian media following UFC 312
Harry Kettle - February 11, 2025
UFC president Dana White has ripped into the Australian media following last weekend’s UFC 312 event in Sydney. We all know that Dana White likes to speak to his mind. In fact, he prides himself on free speech. The Ultimate Fighting Championship has a very loose stance when it comes to reprimanding fighters for what they say, which is why the likes of Sean Strickland are so open with their thoughts.
Stipe Miocic gives Tom Aspinall advice for potential Jon Jones fight
Harry Kettle - February 11, 2025
UFC legend Stipe Miocic has given Tom Aspinall some advice ahead of a potential heavyweight title unification fight against Jon Jones. Mixed martial arts fans around the world want one thing above all others: Tom Aspinall fighting Jon Jones. One is the interim heavyweight champion, and the other is the undisputed heavyweight champion. From a purely logistical point of view, it makes sense for the two to battle one another. Of course, we all know that ‘Bones’ has made it crystal clear that he isn’t overly interested in the idea.
Merab Dvalishvili opens up on training with fellow UFC champion Weili Zhang: “She’s very strong like a man brother”
Harry Kettle - February 11, 2025
UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili has given his thoughts on training with fellow champion Weili Zhang. Last weekend, Weili Zhang made a real statement. She was able to dominate and defeat Tatiana Suarez, successfully retaining her UFC strawweight championship in the process. Now, we’re at a point whereby Weili is widely considered to be one of the best fighters not just in women’s MMA, but in mixed martial arts as a whole.
Just Scrap Radio Ep. 189 with Youssef Zalal, Andre Petroski and Vince Morales
Cole Shelton - February 11, 2025
The 189th episode of Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN.com with host Cole Shelton is live to preview UFC Vegas 102. We’re first joined by UFC featherweight Youssef Zalal (1:07). Next, UFC middleweight Andre Petroski (12:33) joins the show. Closing out the program is UFC bantamweight Vince Morales (21:10).
What's next for the stars of UFC 312?
Cole Shelton - February 10, 2025
The UFC was in Sydney, Australia on Saturday for a UFC 312 card that saw two titles on the line. In the main event, Dricus Du Plessis was rematching Sean Strickland for the middleweight title. The co-main event saw Weili Zhang defending her strawweight title against Tatiana Suarez.
Usman Nurmagomedov reveals he was sick leading up to PFL title fight against Paul Hughes: "I was at 50 percent"
Josh Evanoff - February 10, 2025
PFL lightweight star Usman Nurmagomedov is opening up on his close title fight with Paul Hughes. The two lightweights faced off in the main event of PFL Champions Series 1 last month in Dubai. In what will likely go down as the final Bellator title fight, Usman Nurmagomedov and Paul Hughes went to war. Despite the Russian entering the cage as a huge betting favorite, ‘Big News’ gave the champion all he could handle.
Joe Rogan pushes for Ilia Topuria vs Islam Makhachev next: "Make the big fight"
Cole Shelton - February 10, 2025
UFC commentator Joe Rogan is hopeful that Ilia Topuria will move up to lightweight to face Islam Makhachev next time out. Topuria has been hinting at a potential fight with Makhachev for the lightweight title. It would be a massive fight, but some fans want to see him defend the featherweight title a couple more times.
Luke Rockhold slams 'b*tch' Sean Strickland following UFC 312 title loss: "Fight like a f*cking man!"
Josh Evanoff - February 10, 2025
Luke Rockhold has slammed Sean Strickland following his loss at UFC 312 over the weekend. ‘Tarzan’ returned to the octagon in the main event of the pay-per-view offering from Australia on Saturday. Back for the first time since handing Paulo Costa a split-decision loss last summer, Sean Strickland again faced Dricus du Plessis. ‘Stillknocks’ famously won the gold from the American by a contentious decision last January.
Brandon Royval details the reason why he had withdrew from Manel Kape fight: "I’m still dealing with the repercussions"
Cole Shelton - February 10, 2025
Brandon Royval has opened up on why he had to withdraw from his March 1 fight against Manel Kape. Royval and Kape were set to headline the Fight Night card in a potential No. 1 contender fight at flyweight. However, Royval was forced out of the bout due to an undisclosed injury.
Daniel Cormier admits he was wrong about Dricus du Plessis: 'I'm done questioning him'
Fernando Quiles Jr. - February 10, 2025
UFC Hall of Famer and color commentator Daniel Cormier will no longer doubt Dricus du Plessis. Du Plessis made his second successful UFC middleweight title defense this past Saturday. He did so in a rematch with the man he defeated to win the championship, Sean Strickland. While the first meeting between the two was a five-round barn burner, “Stillknocks” made things quite one-sided in the rematch at UFC 312, getting the better of Strickland on the feet and even shattering his opponent’s nose in the process. Ultimately, it was a unanimous decision victory for du Plessis.
Michael Bisping torches Jake Paul for his reaction to Canelo Alvarez fight talks fizzling out
Fernando Quiles Jr. - February 10, 2025
Michael Bisping has heard of enough of Jake Paul. Paul has been in the headlines again after talks of a mega showdown with boxing superstar Canelo Alvarez fell apart. “The Problem Child” claimed that both men had agreed to the bout and even revealed what he said was going to be the official poster for the fight. Alvarez ended up pivoting and signing a four-fight deal with Riyadh Season, which excludes the fight with Paul.
Champ-champ Prajanchai reveals who he wants next after ONE Fight Night 28
BJPENN.COM Staff - February 10, 2025
Two-sport ONE World Champion Prajanchai PK Saenchai asserted his authority at the top of the strawweight ladder this past weekend at ONE Fight Night 28. After leaving no doubt around who is king, he envisions a return to kickboxing. The Thai megastar retained his ONE Strawweight Muay Thai World Title in a masterclass on Friday, February 7. This happened in the show’s main event inside Bangkok, Thailand’s Lumpinee Stadium.
ONE Championship releases Amir Aliakbari
BJPENN.COM Staff - February 10, 2025
ONE Championship cut heavyweight MMA fighter Amir Aliakbari from its roster over the weekend. The Iranian last competed under the ONE Championship banner in November 2024 at ONE 169 in Bangkok, Thailand’s Lumpinee Stadium.
UFC legend thinks Valentina Shevchenko vs. Zhang Weili could be retirement fight
Fernando Quiles Jr. - February 9, 2025
If Zhang Weili and Valentina Shevchenko end up sharing the Octagon, will it be their swan songs? Weili was in action this past Saturday, defending her strawweight gold against Tatiana Suarez in the co-main event of UFC 312. Zhang entered the fight as a slight underdog, but she put forth a dominant performance from the beginning of the second round until the final horn. She scored the unanimous decision victory after five rounds of action.
Dricus du Plessis responds to Khamzat Chimaev's diss following UFC 312: 'Waste of potential'
Fernando Quiles Jr. - February 9, 2025
Dricus du Plessis has responded to Khamzat Chimaev’s recent social media post ripping his rematch with Sean Strickland. Du Plessis scored a unanimous decision victory over Strickland in the main event of UFC 312 this past Saturday. The challenger failed to up his activity due to the looks that du Plessis was giving him all night. It led to du Plessis having a dominant showing to retain his middleweight gold.
Zhang Weili vs. Valentina Shevchenko? Dana White won't rule out UFC super fight
Fernando Quiles Jr. - February 9, 2025
UFC CEO Dana White has left the door open for a potential super fight between Zhang Weili and Valentina Shevchenko. Weili reminded the MMA world just how elite she is this past Saturday. She put the UFC Women’s Strawweight Championship at stake against Tatiana Suarez. Despite her credentials, Weili was the betting underdog going into the UFC 312 co-main event. While Weili was taken down in round one, she took over beginning in the second stanza. Her takedown defense was superb, as well as her ability to reverse position on the ground. Weili’s standup skills also gave Suarez plenty to think about.
Top MMA coach grills Sean Strickland following UFC 312 loss: 'He wants to be something, but he's not that guy'
Chris Taylor - February 9, 2025
One renowned MMA coach believes Sean Strickland has been selling snake oil. Strickland attempted to become a two-time UFC middleweight champion when he shared the Octagon with Dricus du Plessis a second time at UFC 312. While their first encounter was a competitive five-rounder that ended in a split nod for DDP, the rematch was a different story. Strickland couldn’t put his foot on the gas and du Plessis made him pay. “Stillknocks” took this one via unanimous decision, as he was constantly a step ahead on the feet.